Ryan DeHoff at the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. Credit: Carlos Jones/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
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Grant enabled Choice Spine collaboration with advanced manufacturing experts
BioHome 3D sits on the campus of UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center and is made from bioderived materials that were developed in collaboration with ORNL researchers. Credit: UMaine
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ORNL, UMaine 3D print home from biobased materials, develop blueprint for rapid manufacturing
This newly manufactured fixed guide vane of a hydropower turbine system was additively created at the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. Credit: Genevieve Martin/ORNL, U.S Dept. of Energy
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Modernizing a century-old power giant

Manufacturing Demonstration Facility

Revitalizing US Manufacturing 

The Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF), established in 2012, is one of the Department of Energy’s designated user facilities focused on performing early-stage research and development to improve the energy and material efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of American manufacturers. Research focuses on manufacturing analysis and simulation, composites and polymer systems, metal powder systems, metrology and characterization, machine tooling, large-scale metal systems, and robotics and automation.

The MDF is a 110,000 sq. ft. facility housing integrated capabilities that drive the development of new materials, software, and systems for advanced manufacturing. From binder jetting to 3D tomography to in situ monitoring, the MDF leverages a range of equipment and expertise focused on reducing the carbon footprint of the manufacturing sector, efficiently utilizing abundant and available domestic energy resources, and supporting the production of clean energy products that boost the nation’s economy.

Across its energy science and technology user facilities, ORNL delivers breakthroughs from generation to distribution and storage to end use, accelerating America’s transformation to a clean, efficient, flexible, and secure energy future.

MDF Map

Focus Areas

Materials

Developing metallic alloys and polymers designed for additive manufacturing, creating hybrid materials, and understanding the role of feedstocks.

Software & Metrology

Implementing physics-based simulations, 3D tomography, machine learning, data analysis and deploying rapid qualification tools.

Systems

Developing pick and place hybrid systems and optimizing advanced materials.

Manufacturing 4.0
Manufacturing 4.0

Integrating Digital Discipline

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Data analytics for additive manufacturing
Transformational Challenge Reactor Program

A Path Forward for Nuclear

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Manufacturing History and Vision

https://youtu.be/k42GotwKTYc

https://youtu.be/zzeVo6FrGtk

https://youtu.be/ABElg-wfB4Y
MDF Stats